The diplomatic mission to the Holy See was a contested issue, which even led to the fall of the cabinet in 1925 after the Night of Kersten.

After the Capture of Rome and the unification of Italy in 1870, the Papal States and territorial power of the Pope came to an end.

This was a reason for the liberal Member of Parliament Gerard Dumbar to submit an amendment in 1871 to delete the item from the budget.

In 1915, the liberal Cort van der Linden cabinet decided to temporarily reestablish the embassy as a 'listening post' for the neutral Netherlands.

In 1925, the leader of the Reformed Political Party (SGP) Gerrit Hendrik Kersten submitted an amendment to abolish the legation.